whole company at Pawtucket-Incidents relating to that fight-Notice of Capt. Peirse-Nanuntenoo surprised and taken-His magnanimitySpeech to his captors-Is executed and his body burnt-CassassinnamonCatapazet-Monopoide-ANNAWON-His escape from the swamp when Philip was killed-Capt. Church sent out to capture him-Discovers his retreat-Takes him prisoner-His magnanimous behavior-His speech to Church-Presents him with Philip's ornaments-Description of themChurch takes Annawon to Plimouth, where he is put to death-QUINNAPIN- -His connections and marriage-At the capture of Lancaster—Account of his wives-Weetamoo-He is taken and shot-TUSPAQUIN His sales of lands-His operations in Philip's War-Surrenders himself, and is put to death-Reflections upon his executioners-TATOSON-Early notices of Captures a garrison in Plimouth-Trial and execution of Keweenam-Totoson dies of a broken heart-BARROW cruelly murdered -TYASKS.

Nanuntenoo, son of Miantunnomoh, "was chief sachem of all the Narragansets, and heir of all his father's pride and insolency, as well as of his malice against the English."* Notwithstanding this branding character, drawn by a contemporary, we need only look into the life of Miantunnomoh, to find excuse for "malice and insolency" tenfold more than was contained in the breast of Nanuntenoo.

The English had cut to pieces the women and children of his tribe, burned them to death in their wigwams, and left their mangled bodies bleaching in the wintry blast! The swamp fight of the 19 Dec. 1675, could not be forgotten! Nanuntenoo escaped from this scene, but we cannot doubt that he acquitted himself agreeably to the character we have of him.

The first name by which he was known to the English was Canonchet. He had been in Boston the October before the war, upon a treaty, at which time he received, among other presents, a silver-laced coat. Dr. Mather says, speaking of the Narragansets, "their great sachem called Quanonchet, was a principal ringleader in the Narraganset war, and had as great an interest and influence, as can be said of any among the Indians;" and that, "when he was taken and slain, it was an amazing stroke to the enemy."

The name of Canonchet stands first to the treaty, to which we have just alluded, which was entered into at Boston, 18 Oct. 1675. By that treaty, the Narragansets agreed to deliver to the English in 10 days, "all and euery one of the said Indians, whether belonging vnto Philip, the Pocasset Sqva, or the Saconett Indians, Quabaug, Hadley, or any other sachems or people that haue bin or are in hostillitie with the English, or any of their allies or abettors."§ The names to the treaty are as follows: "QUANANCHETT's mark,

Witnesses. RICHARD SMITH, JAMES BROWNE,

SAMUEL GORTon, Jr.

Interpreters.

sachem in behalf of himself and Conanacus and the Old Queen and Pombam and Quaunapeen, (seal)

JOHN NO WHENETT's X mark,

Indian interpreter.

MANATANNOO counceller his +

mark, and Cannonacus in his behalf, (seal) AHANMANPOWETT's+mark, counceller and his (seal)

CORNMAN, cheiffe counceller to

Ninnegrett, in his behalfe, and a seal (S.)”

reasonably be questioned, in this particular, when the more glaring error of the name of the person said to have killed Philip, is staring us in the face.

*Hubbard, 67.-Mr. Oldmixon calls him "the mighty sachem of Narraganset."Brit. Empire. Prevalency of Prayer, 11.

Brief Hist. 26.

It may be seen at large in Hazard's Collections, i. 536, 537,

The Indians having carried their whirlwind of war to the very doors of Plimouth, caused the sending out of Capt. Peirce, (or, as his name is uniformly in the records, Peirse,) to divert them from these ravages, and destroy as many of them as he was able. He had a large company, consisting of 70 men, 20 of whom were friendly Indians. With these, no doubt, Peirse thought himself safe against any power of the Indians in that region.

Meanwhile this most valiant chief captain of the Narragansets, Nanuntenoo, learning, we presume, by his spies, the direction the English were taking, assembled his warriors at a crossing place on Pawtucket River, at a point adjacent to a place since called Attleborough- Gore, and not far distant from Pawtucket falls. It is judged that Nanuntenoo was upon an expedition to attack Plimouth, or some of the adjacent towns, for his force was estimated at upwards of 300 men.

On arriving at this fatal place, some of Nanuntenoo's men showed themselves retiring, on the opposite side of the river. This stratagem succeeded,-Peirse followed.* No sooner was he upon the western side, than the warriors of Nanuntenoo, like an avalanche from a mountain, rushed down upon him; nor striving for coverts from which to fight, more than their foes, fought them face to face with the most determined bravery.

A part of Nanuntenoo's force remained on the east side of the river, to prevent the retreat of the English, which they most effectually did, as in the event will appear. When Capt. Peirse saw himself hemmed in by numbers on every side, he drew up his men upon the margin of the river, in two ranks, back to back,† and in this manner fought until nearly all his men were slain. Peirse had timely sent a messenger to Providence for assistance, and although the distance could not have been more than six or eight miles, from some inexplicable cause, no succor arrived; and Mr. Hubbard adds, “As Solomon saith, a faithful messenger is as snow in harvest."

This dreadful fight was on Sunday, 26 March, 1676, when, as Dr. Mather says, "Capt. Peirse was slain and forty and nine English with him, and eight, (or more,) Indians, who did assist the English." The Rev. Mr. Newman of Rehoboth wrote a letter to Plimouth dated the day after the slaughter, in which he says, "52 of our English, and 11 Indians," were slain. The company was, no doubt, increased by some who volunteered as they marched through the country, or by such as were taken for pilots.

Nanuntenoo's victory was complete, but, as usual on such occasions, the English consoled themselves by making the loss of the Indians appear as large as possible. Dr. Mather says, that some Indians that were afterwards taken confessed they lost 140, which, no doubt, is not far from the truth.

An Englishman, and perhaps the only one who escaped from this disastrous fight, was saved by one of the friendly Indians in this manner: The friendly Indian being taken for a Narraganset, as he was pursuing with an uplifted tomahawk the English soldier, no one interfered, seeing him pursue an unarmed Englishman at such great advantage. In this manner, covering themselves in the woods, they escaped.

A friendly Indian, being pursued by one of Nanunenoo's men, got behind the root of a fallen tree. Thus screened by the earth raised upon

* Dr. Muther (Brief Hist. 24.) says, "a small number of the enemy who in desperate subtlety ran away from them, and they went limping to make the English believe they were lame," and thus effected their object.

+ Deane's Hist. Scituate, 121.

‡ Narrative, 64.

See the letter giving the names of the company in Deane's Scituate, 122, 123.
Mr. Hubbard's account is the same.

the roots, the Indian that pursued waited for him to run from his natural fort, knowing he would not dare to maintain it long. The other soon thought of an expedient, which was to make a port-hole in his breast work, which he easily did by digging through the dirt. When he had done this, he put his gun through, and shot his pursuer, then fled in perfect safety.

Another escaped in a manner very similar. In his flight he got behind a large rock. This afforded him a good shelter, but in the end he saw nothing but certain death, and the longer he held out the more misery he must suffer. In this deplorable situation, he bethought himself to try the following device. Putting his cap upon his gun, he raised it very gradually above the rock, as though to discover the position of his enemy: it had the desired effect-he fired upon it. The one behind the rock now rushed upon him, before he could reload his gun, and despatched him. Thus, as Mr. Hubbard says, "it is worth the noting, what faithfulness and courage some of the Christian Indians shewed in this fight." That this most excellent author did not approve of the severity exercised towards those who appeared friendly, is abundantly proved by his writings. In another place he says, "Possibly if some of the English had not been too shy in making use of such of them as were well affected to their interest, they never need have suffered so much from their enemies."

A notice may be reasonably expected of the unfortunate Capt. William Peirse, of Scituate. He was one of those adventurous spirits "who never knew fear," and who sought rather than shrunk from dangers. He was, like his great antagonist, in the Narraganset fight; and in 1673, when the government of Plimouth raised a force to go against the Dutch, who had encroached upon them in Connecticut, he was appointed ensign in one of the companies. He resided in several places before going to Plimouth. Mr. Deane, in his History of Scituate, gives a genealogical account of his family, from which we learn that he had a second wife, and several sons and daughters. Of what family he was, there is no mention.* He possessed considerable estate, and made his will on engaging in the war with the Indians.

The "sore defeat" of Capt. Peirse, and the tide of the Indians' successes about this time, caused the United Colonies to send out almost their whole strength.

Nanuntenoo came down from the country upon Connecticut River, early in March, for the purpose of collecting seed corn to plant such ground as the English had been driven from, and to effect any other object he might meet with. Whether he had effected the first-named object before falling in with Peirse, we are not able to state; but certain it is, that he was but few days after encamped very near the ground where the fight had been, and was there fallen upon at unawares, when but a few of his men were present, and there taken prisoner.

Nanuntenoo was nearly as much dreaded as Philip himself, and consequently his capture caused great rejoicing among his enemies, and re quires to be particularly related.

Four volunteer companies from Connecticut began their march into the enemy's country the next day after Pawtucket fight. Among the captains of these companies, George Denison of Southerton was the most conspicuous. The others were commanded by James Avery, John Staunton, and Major Palms, who also had the chief command. With these were

In the Records of Plimouth, under date March, 1669, there is this entry :-" Michel Peirse of Scituate" was presented at the court for vnseemly carriages towards Sarah Nichols of Scituate," and "forasmuch as there appeared but one testimony to the p'sentment, and that the testimony was written and not read vnto the deponant, the court saw cause to remit the said p'sentment."

three companies of Indians; one led by Oneko, composed of Mohegans; one of Pequots, by Cassasinnamon; and the other of Nianticks, by Catapa zet; in all about 80.

When this formidable army came near to Nanuntenoo's camp, on the first week in April, 1676, “they met with a stout Indian of the enemie's, whom they presently slew, and two old squaws," who informed them of the situation of Nanuntenoo. At the same time, their own scouts brought the same intelligence. The news of the enemy's approach reached the chief at the moment, says Mr. Hubbard, "that he was divertizing himself with the recital of Capt. Pierce's slaughter." But seven of his men were about him at the moment; the rest were probably in the neighborhood attending to their ordinary affairs. And although he had stationed two sentinels upon an adjacent hill, to give him timely notice if any appeared, their surprise was so great, at the sudden approach of the English, that, in their fright, they ran by their sachem's wigwam, "as if they wanted time to tell what they saw." Seeing this, the sachem sent a third, to learn the cause of the flight of the first, but he fled in the same manner; and lastly he sent two more, one of which," either endued with more courage, or a better sense of his duty, informed him in great haste that all the English army was upon him: whereupon, having no time to consult, and but little to attempt an escape, and no means to defend himself, he began❞* to fly with all speed. Running with great swiftness around the hill, to get out of sight upon the opposite side, he was distinguished by his wary pursuers, and they immediately followed him with that eagerness their important object was calculated to inspire.

The pursuers of the flying chief were Catapazet and his Nianticks, "and a few of the English lightest of foot." Seeing these were gaining upon him, he first cast off his blanket, then his silver-laced coat, and lastly his belt of peag. On seeing these, a doubt no longer remained of its being Nanuntenoo, which urged them, if possible, faster in the chase. There was in the company of Catapazet, one Monopoide, a Pequot, who outran all his companions, and who, gaining upon Nanuntenoo, as he fled upon the side of the river, obliged him to attempt to cross it sooner than he intended. Nevertheless, but for an accident in his passage, he would doubtless have effected his escape. As he was wading through the river, his foot slipped upon a stone, which brought his gun under water. Thus losing some time in recovering himself, and also the use of his gun, probably made him despair of escaping; for Monopoide came up and seized upon him, "within 30 rods of the river side."

Nanuntenoo, having made up his mind to surrender, made no resistance, although he was a man of great physical strength, of superior stature, and acknowledged bravery; and the one who seized upon him very ordinary in that respect. One of the first Englishmen that came up was Robert Staunton, a young man, who presumed to ask the captured chief some questions. He appeared at first to regard the young man with silent indignity, but at length, casting a disdainful look upon his youthful face, "this manly sachem" said, in broken English, “YOU MUCH CHILD! NO UNDERSTAND MATTERS OF WAR! LET YOUR BROTHER OR CHIEF COME, HIM I WILL ANSWER." And, adds Mr. Hubbard, he "was as good as his word: acting herein, as if, by a Pythagorean metempsychosis, some old Roman ghost had possessed the body

*This elegant passage of Mr. Hubbard brings to our mind that inimitable one of Clavigero, in his account of the woful days of the Mexicans: "They had neither arms to repel the multitude and fury of their enemies, strength to defend themselves, nor space to fight upon; the ground of the city was covered with dead bodies, and the water of every ditch and canal purpled with blood." Hist. Mexico, iii. 73.

of this western pagan. And, like Attilius Regulus,* he would not accept of his own life, when it was tendered him." This tender of life to Nanuntenoo was, no doubt, upon the condition of his obtaining the submission of his nation. He met the idea with indignation; and when the English told him that he should be put to death if he did not comply, in the most composed manner he replied, that killing him would not end the war. Some of his captors endeavored to reflect upon him, by telling him, that he had said he would burn the English in their houses, and that he had boasted, in defiance of his promise last made to the English, which was to deliver the Wampanoags to them, that he would not deliver up a Wampanoag or the paring of a Wampanoag's nail. To this he only replied, "OTHERS WERE AS FORWARD FOR THE WAR AS MYSELF, AND I DESIRE TO HEAR NO MORE ABOUT IT." Had the English not burned his people in their houses? Did they ever deliver up any that had committed depredations upon the Narragansets? No!-Who, then, will ask for an excuse for the magnanimous Nanuntenoo? So indignant was he at their conduct, that he would hear nothing about peace; "refusing to send an old counsellor of his to make any motion that way."

Under the eye of Denison, Nanuntenoo was taken to Stonington, where, by the "advice of the English commanders, he was shot." His head was cut off and carried to Hartford, and his body consumed by fire. The English prevailed upon some of each tribe of their allies, viz. Pequots, Mohegans and Nianticks, to be his executioners, "thereby the more firmly to engage the said Indians against the treacherous Narragansets." "Herein," says another writert of that day, "the English dealt wisely, for by this means the three Indian nations are become abominable to the other Indians." And a respectable writers of our own times says, "It may be pleasing to the reader to be informed" of the fate of Nanuntenoo!

When it was announced to the noble chief that he must be put to death, he was not in the least daunted, and all he is reported to have said is this :

"I LIKE IT WELL; I SHALL DIE BEFORE MY HEART IS SOFT, OR HAVE SAID ANY THING UNWORTHY OF MYSELF." With Nanuntenoo, fell into the hands of the English 43 others.||

The author of the anonymous "Letters to London"¶ says the Indians were "commanded by that famous but very bloudy and cruel sachem, Quononshot, otherwise called Myantonomy," whose "carriage was strangely proud and lofty after he was taken; being examined why he did foment that war, which would certainly be the destruction of him and all the heathen Indians in the country, &c., he would make no other reply to

* Marcus Attilius Regulus, a Roman consul and general, taken prisoner by the Carthaginians, 251 years B. C. They sent him to Rome to use his endeavors to effect a peace, by his solemn promise to return within a given period. The most excruciating tortures awaited him, should he not execute his mission according to his instructions. When arrived at Rome, he exhorted his countrymen to hold out, and maintain the war against the Carthaginians, stating their situation, and the great advantages that would accrue. He knew what would be his fate on returning to Carthage, and many a noble Roman besought him not to return, and thus sacrifice his life; but he would not break his promise, even with his barbarous enemies. This is what is meant by not accepting his own life when tendered him. He returned, and, if history be true, no Indian nation ever tortured a prisoner, beyond what the Carthaginians inflicted upon Marcus Attilius Regulus. See Echard's Roman Hist. i. 188-9.

I. Mather.

Hubbard. Deane, Hist. Scituate, 124. Manuscript letter in Hist. library. Both Hubbard and Mather say 44; perhaps they included Nanuntenoo.

Elsewhere cited as The Present State, &c,